Senate Says No To Bush`s Crime Bill

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted late Thursday to reject the Bush administration`s anti-crime package, leaving the Democratic version as a vehicle for a final bill.

The 40-56 vote came on a Republican amendment to substitute the Bush version for the Democrats` measure. The vote went largely along party lines.

On Friday, Republicans are expected to begin offering amendments to the Democratic bill. Both sides predict the final package will be a solid compromise plan to deal with soaring violent crime.

Debate on the bill is expected to dominate the Senate through the coming week. A final vote is not expected until the weekend of June 29.

The Democratic plan includes a proposed seven-day waiting period for handgun purchases, the so-called Brady Bill that is opposed by the

administration.

Thursday night`s vote followed attempts by both sides to garner support by adding and dropping features to their bills.

Republicans, sensing defeat, adopted significant parts of the Democratic package, including $3.8 billion in funding for law enforcement.

The Democratic package was sweetened for Southern conservatives when the Senate stripped a controversial ``racial justice act`` from proposed death-penalty provisions. The vote to delete was 55-41.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-Del.), author of the Democratic bill, opened debate Thursday morning by attacking the Bush package for doing little against record rates of murder, rape and other violent crimes.

Republicans countered by accusing Democrats of favoring ``liberal``

legislation, including bills they said make it easier for death-row inmates to escape execution.

Key stakes in the debate:

- Increasing the number of crimes that could draw the federal death penalty.

- Curbing appeals of death-row inmates.

- Increasing the admissibility of illegally seized evidence.

- Imposing the seven-day waiting period. The House already has approved such a waiting period.

The Democratic package includes $3.2 billion to hire additional federal law-enforcement agents and to help local governments hire more police, prosecutors and judges.

The Republican package initially included no funds for law enforcement, but on Thursday Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) added $3.8 billion to match the Democrats` version.

``It`s a battle for who gets credit and which package survives,`` said one Republican staffer.

Democrats and Republicans continued to negotiate over a final version of the Brady measure. Full debate and a vote on this element of the crime bill is not expected until next week.